Pump.



Patented Oct. 28, |902.

E. E. HENDRICK.

PUMP.

:Application Bled Feb. 4, 1902.)

(No Model.)

r m w m Witnesses .f

Attorneys UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

ELI E. HENDRICK, OF CARBONDALE, PENNSYLVANIA.

PUMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 711,966, dated October28, 1902.

Application filed February 4, 1902. Serial No. 92,570. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELI E. HENDRICK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Carbondale, in the county of Lackawanna and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inPumps, of which the following is a description.

This invention relates to that class of pumps in which are employed acasing, either continuous or built up of sections, a power-shaft withinthe casing, and screws or propellers mounted on such shaft and caused torotate within the casing for the purpose of elevating water or othermaterial. In pumpsof this character it is essentialthat the shaft beprovided at suitable intervals, preferably ad jacent to the propellers,with bearingsv for the purpose of assu ring the operation'of the shaftin the longitudinal center of the casing. It is also essential toprovide means, which may or may not be combined withsuch bearings, forinterrupting or breaking up the tendency of the Water or other materialto swirl within the pump-casing under the ininence of the rotatingpropellers.` Heretofore the use has been attempted of a combinedshaft-bearing and water-guide employing tangentially-disposed curvedresilient arms extending outwardly from the shaft-bearing and coactingwith the interior of the pump-casing. Many difficulties have beenexperienced with such a structure, among which may be mentioned, first,that the accuracy with which the shaft is located in the longitudinalcenter of the casing depends upon the exertion of the same degree ofpressure by each of the several ontwardly-projecting wings or arms, and,second, that where the right degree of such pressure is not exerted uponthe interior of the casing not only is the pump-shaft free, to someextent, at least, to rotate out of such longitudinal center, but thecombined guide and bearing is also caused to rotate with such shaft.Vhenever either of these difficulties is experienced, the propellers,which to obtain maximum eiiciency should be but slightly smaller thanthe interior of the casing, are permitted to operate against suchcasing, thereby producing unnecessary friction and wear and materiallyreducing the efficiency of the pump.

In the present invention I employ a waterguiding mechanism which may ormay not be combined with a shaft-bearing, as desired. Essentially itconsists of a hub (which may constitute the shaft-bearing) andoutwardlyextending arms coacting with the interior of the pump-casing,certain of which arms are rigid and of such predetermined dimensions asthat when their free ends are in contact with the interior of thepump-casing the hub or bearing will be accurately located in thelongitudinal center of the casing. Also coacting with the hub or bearingis a device adapted to exert yielding pressure upon the interior of thecasing to assure contact between the rigid arms or vaues and the inte--rior of the pump-casing opposite such device. In the present embodimentof the invention this device consists of a housing formed integral withor connected to the hub or bearing and extending outwardly toward thepump-casing. Within this housing is mounted a sliding block, with whichcoacts a spring or springs having a tendency to force said sliding blockoutwardly into contact with the interior of the casing. Mounted in thefree end of said sliding block is a wheel or wheels having, preferably,a sharpened periphery or peripheries. The office of such wheel or wheelsis to coact, under the pressure of the springs which operate against thesliding block, with the interior of the pump-casing, so as to firmlyhold the hub or bearing and its attached mechanism againstdisplacement-such, for instance, as turning under the influence of therotary shaft by means of which the propellers are operated. If desired,the peripheries of said wheels may be toothed or serrated in order tosecure more efficient coaction thereof with the interior of the casing.Also, if desired,`the interior of the casing may be grooved or channeledwith the same end in View.

In the drawings, Figure l is a transverse section of a pump-casinghaving the combined guide and bearing of this invention located therein.Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, butillustrating also (in elevation) the propeller attached to thepower-shaft. Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3 3 ofFig. 2.

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Referring to the drawings, in which similar letters denote correspondingparts, it will first be observed that I have illustrated (and shallherein describe) the invention as embodied in a combined water-guide andshaftbearing, although, as will be apparent, separate and distinctdevices mayv be employed to meet these requirements, the structure sodescribed being capable of use as one or the other or both.

A designates the pum p-casing,within\which is located the rotary shaftB, upon which is mounted the propeller C. Of course where water or othermaterial is to be elevated a considerable distance a number of thesepropellers, suitably spaced, may be employed. Located, preferably, atpoints adjacent to the propellers (either above or below the same) aremounted combined water guides and shaft-bearings, each consisting of ahub D, provided with a central orifice cl, Vthrough which thepower-shaft extends, and also, if desired, with an internal chamber orrecess d for the reception of a lubricant. Extending outwardly from thehub D is a series of wings or arms E E, and of these there may be anydesired nu mber. These arms may be formed integral with the hub orbearing D (which is preferably cast) or may, as ind icated in Figs. 1and 3, be formed separable and secured thereto.v I iprefer theconstruction illustrated in said figures, in which the hub is cast aboutthe inner ends of said arms. The arms E E' are of such length as thatwhen their free ends are in contact with the interior of the casing thepump or bearing D will be accurately located in the longitudinal centerof the pump-casing.

In conjunction with the hub or bearing D and substantially rigid arms EE', I employa device for exerting a yielding pressure outwardly againstthe interior of the casing. In the present instance this consists,first, of a housing F, comprising side members f f', either formedseparable and secured to or cast integral with the hub or bearing D. Thesides ff' extend outwardly from said hub or bearing and terminate shortof the interior of the pump-casing, as clearly shown in the drawings.Within the housing F is a sliding block G, here shown as provided withtop and bottom plates g g' of such size as to extend outwardly over thetop of the sides ff' of the housing F to maintain said block in positionand permit it to slide upon said housing. bearing D, I locate means forpressing said block outwardly against the interior of the casing. In thepresent instance I have shown a preferred construction, although notdesir# ing to limit myself thereto. This construction. consists of threecoiled springs H, the

inner ends of which are received in recesses h', formed in the hub orbearing D. Their outer ends bear against the inner surface of the blockG. If desired, such surface may Between the block G and the hub orv alsobe provided with recesses h'similar to i those formed in the hub orbearing D.

g2 designates an orifice extending through the block G, and through thisorifice extends a bolt g3, which passes also through the sides ff of thehousing F, on the exterior of which it is secured by ,any suitablemeans. I prefer to make the orifice g2 considerably larger than the boltg3 in order to allow the requisite amountl of'play for the adjustment ofthe block G.

The outer end of the block Gis bifurcated, as best shown in Figs. l andY3, and within the recess so formed I mount the wheel or wheels I. Asingle one of such wheels may be employed, but I prefer the use of aseries of such wheels, and have therefore illustrated threein thedrawings. Each wheel is mounted upon a journal t', the ends of which areheld in bearingsin the sliding block G. Furthermore, as best shown inFigs. l and 2,the periphery of -each of the wheels is sharp, so as tosecure more efcient coaction thereof with the interior of the casing. Ifdesired, such periphery may, as above indicated, be toothed or serrated.This, however, being such an obvious modilicatiou of the constructionshown is not illustrated in the drawings. The wheels I being of the samesize and their journals being located in the same plane in the block Git is apparent that under the influence of the springs H, which pressthe block G outwardly, the peripheries of said wheels will bear againstthe interior of the pump-casing withna degree of pressure determined bythe strength of said springs. This pressure may be so great as to causesaid wheels to cut a shallow groove in the in.- terior of the casing, orprior to the assembling of the parts of the pump the casing may beprovided with such a shallow groove for coaction with the wheels I whenthe parts shall have been assembled as herein described.

In assembling the parts of the pump and assuming that the casing is ofthe continuous character the shaft is introduced within the casingcarrying the propeller and guide or series of such propellers andguides. In introducing the combined guide and bearing of this inventionit is necessary to press inwardly the sliding block G and the wheelscarried thereby. In forcing the mechanism down within the pump-casingand when the apparatus is brought to rest in the desired position thepressure of the wheels I against the interior of the casing assuresintimate contact of the free ends of the substantially rigid arms E Ewith the interior of the casing opposite the point of the yieldingpressure device. By this means the pump-shaft is accurately located inthe longitudinal center of the casing, and the propeller carried by saidshaft is prevented from contacting with the casing during its operation.Should the use of the pump develop a tendency to IOO IIO

rotate the guides and bearings, as Well as the propellers, this will beresisted by the engagement of the wheels I with the interior of thecasing, as hereinbefore explained.

l. In a pump, the combination with a casing, of a shaft havingpropellers mounted thereon, hubs through Which said shaft passes, armsextending from said hubs and coacting directly with the interior of thecasing, and means for exerting yielding pressure upon said hubs tomaintain the same in the longitudinal center of the casing, said meansincluding a wheel coacting With said casing, substantially as described.

2. In a pump, the combination with a casing, of a shaft havingpropellers mounted thereon, hubs through which said shaft passes, armsextending from said hubs and coacting directly with the interior of thecasing, and means for exertingr yielding pressure upon said hubs tomaintain the same in the longitudinal center of the casing, said meansincluding a Wheel having a sharpened periphery coacting with saidcasing, substantially as described. y

3. In a pump, the combination with a casing, of a shaft havingpropellers mounted thereon, hubs through which said shaft passes, armsextending from said hubs and coacting' directly with the interior of thecasing, and means for exerting yielding pressure upon said hubs tomaintain the same in the longitudinal center of the casing, said meansincluding aseries of wheels coacting With said casing,.substantially asdescribed.

4. In a pump, the combination with a casing, of a shaft havingpropellers mounted thereon, hubs through which said shaft passes, armsextending from said hubs and coacting directly with the interior of thecasing, and means for exerting yielding pressure upon said hubs tomaintain the same in the longitudinal center of the casing, said means-includinga series of Wheels having sharpened peripheries coacting withsaid casing, substantially as described.

5.l In a pump, the combination with a casing, of a shaft having apropeller mounted thereon, a hub through which said shaft passes, armsextending from said hub and coacting with the interior of the casing,and a yielding pressure device coacting With said casing and with saidhub, including a sliding block, means for pressing the same outwardly,and a movable contacting device carried by said block and adapted to beforced thereby into contact with the interior of said casing,substantially as described.

6. In a pump, the combination with a casing, of a shaft having apropeller mounted thereon, a hub through Which said shaft passes, armsextending from said hub and coacting with the interior of the casing,and a yielding pressure device coacting lwith said casing and With saidhub, including a housing, a spring-pressed block therein, and a membercarried by said block and forced thereby into contact with the interiorof the casing, substantially as described.

7. In a pump, the combination with a casing, of a shaft having apropeller mounted thereon, a hub through Which said shaft passes, armsextending from said hub and coacting directly with the interior of thecasing, and a yielding pressure device coactingwith said casing and withsaid hub, including a housing, a spring-pressed block therein, and aWheel carried by said block and forced thereby into contact With theinterior of said casing, substantially as described.

8. In a pump, the combination with a casing, of a shaft having apropeller mounted thereon, a hub through Which said shaft passes, armsextending from said hub and coacting directly with the interior of thecasing, and a yielding pressure device coacting with said casing andwith said hub, including a housing, a spring-pressed block therein, anda series of Wheels carried by said block and forced thereby into contactWith the interior of said casing, substantially as described.

9. In a pump, the combination with a easing, of a shaft having apropeller mounted thereon, a hub through Which said shaft passes, armsextending from said hub and coacting directly with the interior of thecasing,

and a yielding pressure device coacting with said casing and With saidhub, including a housing, a springpressed block therein, means forretaining said block in position in said housing, and a Wheel or Wheelshaving sharpened periphery or peripheries adapted to contact with theinterior of said casing, substantially as described.

This specification signed and witnessed this 27th day of January, 1902.

ELI E. I-IENDRICK.

Witnesses:

=EvA M. SMITH,

A. THOMSON.

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